In a potential qualitative shift in its product range, Apple plans to release a foldable iPhone in early 2026, according to a report from “The Information” website, and this step may represent the largest fundamental change in the design of the company’s main device, as reported by Reuters.
Apple’s plan to launch a foldable iPhone is not a surprise to industry experts, as Apple is known to take a cautious and wait-and-see approach when adopting any new technologies.
The “The Information” report, citing sources familiar with the matter, indicates that the foldable iPhone project has passed the conceptualization stage, and Apple has contacted suppliers in Asia to develop the components of the device, which within the company currently bears the code name “V68” (V68).
If Apple continues implementing this project, it will follow in the footsteps of Samsung, which has been a leader in the foldable smartphone market since 2019. Samsung’s initiative was part of a larger strategy to attract customers through innovative designs for its devices, and the South Korean company revealed on July 10/ July, announced its latest foldable phones, which are lighter and slimmer, and come with new artificial intelligence features.
The foldable smartphone market is witnessing significant growth globally. According to a report issued in May by the market research company Counterpoint Research, the market size grew by 49% in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year, which is the highest growth rate during the year. Year and a half.
What is striking is that the Chinese company Huawei has taken the lead in this market, surpassing Samsung for the first time, and this situation highlights the intense competition that Apple will face from major companies such as Huawei and Samsung, in addition to some other competitors such as Honor and Motorola.
Apple also expects that integrating artificial intelligence features into these devices will lead to a rise in demand for its phones, as it faces intense competition from Huawei and Honor in China and from Samsung globally, as Reuters noted.
However, The Information report indicates that it is not certain that Apple will eventually release a foldable iPhone.
In addition to its plans for a foldable iPhone, the report indicates that Apple is working to upgrade the camera system in at least one iPhone. This upgrade will allow users to control the size of the lens aperture with a mechanical system, which may provide advanced scene depth effects.
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